Risperidone and explosive aggressive autism

Area of Science:

• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• Psychopharmacology
• Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background:

• Autistic patients with mental retardation often exhibit challenging behaviors like aggression and explosivity.
• These behaviors can be resistant to traditional pharmacotherapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of risperidone in treating aggression and explosivity in autistic male outpatients with mental retardation.

Main Methods:

• An open-label study involving 11 male outpatients (mean age 18.3 years).
• Risperidone was administered, starting at 0.5 mg daily and titrated to maximum clinical benefit.
• Clinical interviews and Conners Parent-Teacher Questionnaires were used for assessment.

Main Results:

• Immediate and substantial clinical improvement was observed in all patients.
• Aggression, self-injury, explosivity, and poor sleep hygiene showed the most significant improvement.
• The modal dose for optimal response was 0.5 mg twice daily.
• Weight gain (average 0.47 kg/week) was a significant side effect; no extrapyramidal side effects were reported.

Conclusions:

• Risperidone demonstrates significant efficacy in managing behavioral issues in autistic patients with mental retardation.
• The medication appears well-tolerated, with weight gain being the main concern.
• Further research into long-term effects and optimal dosing is warranted.